Ranger will be in the lineup... Liles is traded or demoted.
- burn

I don't see Liles being demoted if he's still with the team/healthy to start the year. Would be a classless move. Nonis will give him a small number of games to prove himself ... like Komi was. Also, it's pretty safe to expect that somebody will on the injured list to start the season which should clear up the required cap space.

Corey Pronman ‏@coreypronman 2m
TOR's Gauthier pounces on a bad pass. 5-3 Canada.
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Sounds more and more like Gauthier has more offense than first thought.

I don't see Liles being demoted if he's still with the team/healthy to start the year. Would be a classless move. Nonis will give him a small number of games to prove himself ... like Komi was. Also, it's pretty safe to expect that somebody will on the injured list to start the season which should clear up the required cap space.
- doinktheclown

I don't get this??? Guys are paid big bucks to play the game, it's part of the game.... that's why they are paid so well (part of the reason anyways).


But you think they wont do it because it's classless??? If you recall they did the same for Connolly.

I don't see Liles being demoted if he's still with the team/healthy to start the year. Would be a classless move. Nonis will give him a small number of games to prove himself ... like Komi was. Also, it's pretty safe to expect that somebody will on the injured list to start the season which should clear up the required cap space.
- doinktheclown

Yes.
I don't see the Leafs in dire straights here, even without injuries. Speculation on what those two RFA's will sign for is just that...speculation, and I'm sure there will be options for the Leafs regardless.

Yes.
I don't see the Leafs in dire straights here, even without injuries. Speculation on what those two RFA's will sign for is just that...speculation, and I'm sure there will be options for the Leafs regardless.
- Woderwick

Nor do I.....

I don't get this??? Guys are paid big bucks to play the game, it's part of the game.... that's why they are paid so well (part of the reason anyways).


But you think they wont do it because it's classless??? If you recall they did the same for Connolly.
- burn

Liles is still a capable player... may not be the right guy for Carlyle.

Connolly was finished as a player is the only difference I can see. The Leafs have a had a difficult time attracting free agents for the last several years. A great way to keep guys away is to treat your veterans like crap, see Gillis, Mike.

Lots can happen from now through camp. But after watching Ranger in person for over a dozen games last year...if he decides he wants to play in the NHL again, he will push someone out. I know it was the AHL, but he was the best defenseman on the ice for both teams for most of the games I attended.

Edit: Including Gardiner.
- Woderwick

I don't get this??? Guys are paid big bucks to play the game, it's part of the game.... that's why they are paid so well (part of the reason anyways).


But you think they wont do it because it's classless??? If you recall they did the same for Connolly.
- burn

I gotta think the players realize the cap and/or injuries could play havoc with some of their careers, which is exactly where Lyles sits. Concussion was a female dog, but them's the breaks..not his fault (maybe it was)...not the Leafs fault, but now the injury, coinciding with his contract has created potential cap issues because he can't crack the lineup. It's a business. Risks on both sides of the ice and on both sides of any contract. I don't think this move would be classless by any means - especially if they have tried to trade him and no one wants him...yet.

- honesthockey

Hard to believe - I know.

Why don't the Leafs and Oil do a trade?

They have a glut of young guys up front and the Leafs can trade a D...probably Kulemin if the return was favourable....Phaneuf/Kulemin for Hall or something along those lines...

I gotta think the players realize the cap and/or injuries could play havoc with some of their careers, which is exactly where Lyles sits. Concussion was a female dog, but them's the breaks..not his fault (maybe it was)...not the Leafs fault, but now the injury, coinciding with his contract has created potential cap issues because he can't crack the lineup. It's a business. Risks on both sides of the ice and on both sides of any contract. I don't think this move would be classless by any means - especially if they have tried to trade him and no one wants him...yet.
- Woderwick

The freaking problem is Burke gave him the (frank)ing contract after he was concussed. No wonder the big headed wiener was fired!!!!!

Why don't the Leafs and Oil do a trade?

They have a glut of young guys up front and the Leafs can trade a D...probably Kulemin if the return was favourable....Phaneuf/Kulemin for Hall or something along those lines...
- Garnie

I dunno - both of them are afraid of getting screwed in the deal?

I dunno - both of them are afraid of getting screwed in the deal?
- Woderwick

Somebody has to get screwed...let's hope it's the Oil!!!!

Why don't the Leafs and Oil do a trade?

They have a glut of young guys up front and the Leafs can trade a D...probably Kulemin if the return was favourable....Phaneuf/Kulemin for Hall or something along those lines...
- Garnie

id rather take a stab for nuge, if its along the lines of phaneuf for nuge i would be down

The freaking problem is Burke gave him the (frank)ing contract after he was concussed. No wonder the big headed wiener was fired!!!!!
- Garnie

True, but guys recover from concussions all the time. I'm not sure Lyles play is totally due to that concussion.

id rather take a stab for nuge, if its along the lines of phaneuf for nuge i would be down
- Mapleleafs_91

do a bigger deal...like Kulemin/Phaneuf for somebody real good!!!!

Oil need D and a bottom 6...this would be the perfect fit!!!!

Not that I really want to trade either guy..but if you get a great 1st line guy back that is young..maybe you gotta!!!!!!

True, but guys recover from concussions all the time. I'm not sure Lyles play is totally due to that concussion.
- Woderwick

Not like he was concussed and 20...he was concussed and 30 and 5'10"

Liles is still a capable player... may not be the right guy for Carlyle.

Connolly was finished as a player is the only difference I can see. The Leafs have a had a difficult time attracting free agents for the last several years. A great way to keep guys away is to treat your veterans like crap, see Gillis, Mike.
- doinktheclown

Guys getting demoted isn't going to stop players from signing places. Leafs demoted 2 guys this year and still were able to attract UFA's.

They're going to go where the $ is, where they have a chance to win/be successful and where they think they best fit. I don't think any UFA's are sitting around saying I'm not going to X because they demoted [insert veteran NHL'ers name]


There is lots of examples of team demoting nhl'ers and following it up by signing UFA's.

I gotta think the players realize the cap and/or injuries could play havoc with some of their careers, which is exactly where Lyles sits. Concussion was a female dog, but them's the breaks..not his fault (maybe it was)...not the Leafs fault, but now the injury, coinciding with his contract has created potential cap issues because he can't crack the lineup. It's a business. Risks on both sides of the ice and on both sides of any contract. I don't think this move would be classless by any means - especially if they have tried to trade him and no one wants him...yet.
- Woderwick

It wasn't his fault, I can't remember who it was but someone threw him a meatball and made him a sitting duck.


Totally agree with what you said.

I think that sending him down wouldn't be the worst thing. It allows him to play (clearly he'll have a hard time cracking Randy's lineup) and show he's capable. Maybe then someone seeing he's playing pretty well and says yeah he could help us.

The freaking problem is Burke gave him the (frank)ing contract after he was concussed. No wonder the big headed wiener was fired!!!!!
- Garnie

because guys never recover from concussions??

True, but guys recover from concussions all the time. I'm not sure Lyles play is totally due to that concussion.
- Woderwick

The last 2 years he's avg over 30pts/82 games..... last year he was terrible and was on pace for 28pts while essentially playing 6th mins.

because guys never recover from concussions??
- burn

maybe wait til he does? He gets wrecked at the end of Nov and has a nice new big contract by the end of Jan????

Looks like it was a good idea now doesn't it???

I know you want to argue..I could give 2 (frank)s but if I owned the team, it for sure wouldn't have happened...not even sure if he had played a game since the concussion and he was resigned.

20 man roster makes the most sense, their farm team is 20 mins away...if that. No need for guys t sit in the box when they could be playing. I'm good with this!
- CBH17

farm team travels. so do the Leafs. opening yourself up to potentially having to play shorthanded. also, when you have guys stepping into the lineup last min, makes a big difference if they've been practicing/travelling with the club. agree that it's an option but IMO it's the last one the team would take. or should take.

do a bigger deal...like Kulemin/Phaneuf for somebody real good!!!!

Oil need D and a bottom 6...this would be the perfect fit!!!!

Not that I really want to trade either guy..but if you get a great 1st line guy back that is young..maybe you gotta!!!!!!
- Garnie

We need more centers than wingers

Guys getting demoted isn't going to stop players from signing places. Leafs demoted 2 guys this year and still were able to attract UFA's.

They're going to go where the $ is, where they have a chance to win/be successful and where they think they best fit. I don't think any UFA's are sitting around saying I'm not going to X because they demoted
- burn[insert veteran NHL'ers name]


There is lots of examples of team demoting nhl'ers and following it up by signing UFA's.

Rangers